Alvin Sundell, 86

September 21, 2011

Alvin Gustav Sundell, 86, of Wakefield, died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield. Funeral services were Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield with Pastor Darwin Garton officiating.
A Masonic and Eastern Star service was held at 7 p.m. Burial was in the Wakefield Cemetery, with Military honors presented by the Wakefield American Legion Post 81
Alvin was born April 14, 1925, on the family farm south of Wakefield, the eldest of two sons of Albert T. and Helen E. (Robertson) Sundell. He attended Bell Country School through 8th grade and finished his high school education at Wakefield High School.
Upon graduation in 1942, he continued farming with his father until being called to duty with the Army Aug. 31, 1944. He took his Infantry Basic Training at Camp Walters, Texas.
January 1945, he left the east coast on the Queen Mary to serve his country during World War II. He served with the 407th and 16th Infantry Regiments and was honorably discharged June 28, 1946. Alvin returned to farming and retired from active farming in the mid 1990s.
Alvin married Mary Ellen Kingsbury Dec. 21, 1949. They are parents of Suellen K. (Koepke) and Sarilyn E. (Stine).
He has been active within the Wakefield community his whole life. Alvin served on the Wakefield School Board for many years and was recognized with honorary membership in the National Honor Society. He organized and implemented the Flag Raising Ceremony on the first day of school for 57 years. This fall was the first ceremony he missed due to health reasons.
Other organizations and boards that Alvin was involved with include, but not limited to, are: Salem Lutheran Church; Wakefield (Hospital) Health Care Center; Wakefield Senior Center; Nebraska Area on Aging Agency; Lower Elkhorn NRD; Wayne County Weed Control District; Soil Conservation Service; Wayne County R.E.A.; and a Golden Harvest Seed Company Dealer. He also enjoyed many social clubs within the community.
Alvin was very active with Masonic Organizations including Corinthian Lodge 83, A.M. & F.M.; Wayne Chapter 194, Order of the Eastern Star; ABU Bekr Shrine, A.A.O.N.M.S. As a former military serviceman, he was an active member holding various offices with the Allen Keagle Post 5765, VFW; and the American Legion Post 81.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; two daughters, Suellen and husband Lonnie Koepke of Broken Bow; Sarilyn and husband Gary Stine of Valley Center, Calif.; three granddaughters, Miranda (Koepke) Stoll and husband Dan, Marisalynn Koepke, and Emily Stine; and one grandson, Michael Stine. He is also survived by three nephews, Ted Sundell, Steve Sundell, and Rick Sundell and their families.
Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Lawrence and sister-in-law Marjorie.